Reviews (1)

An important work
Anyone who has travelled extenisvely in Africa is aware of the diversity of ethnic and tribal groups.Anyone who has then travelled or perhaps recalled their previous experience in the Americas is shocked to realize then that the African diaspora in the Americans must reflect this, or at least used to reflect this diversity in some way.
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Subjects:  1. Africans    2. America    3. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    4. Anthropology - Cultural    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. Ethnic identity    7. History    8. Slavery    9. Slaves    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. American history    13. Atlantic world; African Diaspora; ethnicity; plantation society; African slave trade; Brazil; Caribbean; British America; French Americas; Spanish America; Portuguese America; Moorish Spain; colonialism; slave reparations;     14. Black studies    15. Slavery & emancipation    16. Social Science / African-American Studies    17. Social history    18. The Americas   

Reviews (13)

warmed-over cliches
As some of the reviews below suggest (albeit approvingly), this is a one-sided rehash of the modern cliches about this era:the Christians retaking their land are evil and intolerant; the Muslims who violently seized these lands in the first place are noble and benificent.I look forward to reading Mr. Reston's forthcoming book on the bloody Muslim conquests of the Middle East, northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, Turkey and the Balkans, and their forcible conversion of millions throughout those lands, which were once predominantly Christian.That should be a ripping good read.
Reston's work is engaging and a good piece for beginners
This book is not meant to be a super scholarly treatment of the period and events in questions. Instead, the book is meant to be an invitation to the characters, history and events that make up a pivotal period in western history. Reston succeeds in wonderfully telling a story of the pivotal events that were taking place in late 15th century Spain, including: the final defeat of the Moors, Ferdinand and Isabella's expulsion of the Jews, the discovery of the New World, the horrors of the inquisition and the overall consolidation of Spanish power into one united nation. As Reston argues, the ramifications of these events are still reverberating through the ages.
Reston's work is engaging and very approachable
This book is not meant to be a super scholarly treatment of the period and events in questions. Instead, the book is meant to be an invitation to the characters, history and events that make up a pivotal period in western history. Reston succeeds in wonderfully telling a story of the pivotal events that were taking place in late 15th century Spain, including: the final defeat of the Moors, Ferdinand and Isabella's expulsion of the Jews, the discovery of the New World, the horrors of the inquisition and the overall consolidation of Spanish power into one united nation. As Reston argues, the ramifications of these events are still reverberating through the ages.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Catholicism    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Renaissance    8. History / Spain & Portugal   

Subjects:  1. 1887-1927    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Art Museums And Galleries    5. Artists, Architects, Photographers    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Cubism    8. Exhibitions    9. Gris, Juan,    10. History - General    11. Individual Artist    12. Spain    13. Art / History / General    14. Gris, Juan   

Reviews (17)

Fascinating
It takes you back in time and you feel you are transfixed and spellbound by irresistible well-described and documented events.
A pity, really
As others have noted, there are striking errors of detail. The botching of the account of Ponce de Leon's trajectory along the east coast of Florida struck me as minor but annoying. Getting the story of the day lost crossing the international date line going west exactly wrong (p. 509), exactly reversing Pigafetta's narrative, is simply unforgivable. It's a pity the book lacked, it would seem, a proper editor.

Lost in the Minutia
What should be an interesting work about Spain's exploration and conquest of the New World turns into cumbersome and bloated work without focus.I have to agree with another reviewer who asked, "where is the editor?"Thomas repeatedly goes off on tangents and fills pages with unimportant information which makes reading the book a chore.It is well researched and footnoted, but Thomas fails to explain why all the facts he dumps into the book are important. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. America    3. Colonies    4. Discovery and exploration    5. Europe - Spain & Portugal    6. Ferdinand and Isabella, 1479-1516    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Modern - 16th Century    11. Spain    12. Spanish    13. History / Spain & Portugal   

Reviews (24)

The Little Flower
Therese of Lisieux lived a very sheltered life. As we begin the book she actually seems to be spoiled by her family. Her parents were financially secure and devoutly religious. Therese knew she wanted to be a nun from the age of three. She had bouts of poor health and she suffered the loss of her mother early in her life. And then the sisters she relied on left one by one to join the convent. But she also had security and love from her family. She also had an incredible sense of self-direction.
"Story of a Soul" has Many Lessons to Offer
"Story of a Soul" is a collection of three manuscripts written by Therese of Lisieux near the end of her very brief life. Therese lived in France at the end of the 19th century and spent nine of her twenty-four years in a Carmelite cloister, yet this simple woman and her "little way" have touched millions of lives in the years since her death.
Inspirational book
After reading the book, I felt an inner peace. Books were written how to live life. But this book tells the inner thoughts of a dying saint and hows how to die gracefully. Thereby shows how to really live life. A story of a soul that provedthat Jesus is truly the Son of the Living God.
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Subjects:  1. 1873-1897    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Christian saints    6. Christianity - History - Catholic    7. France    8. General    9. Lisieux    10. Lisieux (France)    11. Thâeráese,    12. de Lisieux, Saint,    13. Biography: general    14. Christian mysticism    15. Religion / General    16. Spain   

Reviews (12)

Camino Junkie
I walked the Camino in the Fall of 2004 and took this book along with a much thinner more practical guide book. I loved, loved, loved having this book!My thin, practical guidebook told me of the trail, and places to stay and eat. This guidebook brought the experience alive for me.Everynight before I went to sleep, I would read the passage about the day I had just walked, and then would read the passage about the next day's walk.I saw and experienced things I would have totally missed if I did not have this book. I would walk along and think of the millions of pilgrams that had walked this path for over 1000 years.In this books there are excerpts from journals of medieval pilgrams, which really made me feel the history of this pilgramage.I too worried about the weight of the book, but found that in the long run it was really worth the added pound in my backpack.I do recommend taking a more practical guidebook as well. I found the guidebook put out by the Confraternity of St. James to be great!If you are not one bit interested in the History and Folklore of the Camino, then skip this book.But if you are, this book is invaluable.I found that I was sharing it with other pilgrams all the time, who wanted more info on what we were experiencing.

Great guide
For anyone planning to walk The Way of St James pilgrimage across Norther Spain, this book provides fascinating local history. I read it after I walked, and wish I had done it the other way around.

Wonderful Book on the Cultural Background of the Camino
I did the Camino in 2003 using this book as a guide.In fact it was the only one I brought with me.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Christian pilgrims and pilgrim    3. Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages    4. Description and travel    5. Europe - Spain & Portugal    6. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    7. Santiago de Compostela    8. Spain    9. Spain, Northern    10. Travel    11. Travel - Foreign    12. Portugal    13. Travel & holiday guides   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (2)

Required reading.
If you are a dressage trainer or instructor this book is required reading to consider yourself educated in dressage.

A Book Every Rider Should have!!!
It is an excellent reference book, the drawings show the movements very well, all riders should have it and use it. It is a delight to read!
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Equestrian    4. Historical - General    5. Sports & Recreation    6. HORSEMANSHIP    7. HORSEMEN AND HORSEWOMEN_BIOGRAPHY    8. Riding & horsemanship    9. Sports & Recreation / Equestrian   

Subjects:  1. Crime And Criminals    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Emigration And Immigration    4. General    5. History - U.S.    6. Mexico    7. Social Science    8. Social aspects    9. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    10. Texas    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. True Crime / General   

Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. Latin America - Mexico    3. History / Latin America   

Subjects:  1. 1420-1798    2. Catholic Church    3. Europe - Italy    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. Foreign Relations    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. International Relations - General    10. Italy - History    11. Papal States    12. Politics and government    13. Rome (Italy)    14. Spain    15. History / Italy   

Reviews (2)

The Truth About the Spanish Heritage
This is an excellent book! It was written more than ten years ago by a Latin who is obviously an Anglophile. He goes to the origins of English and Spanish character traits, the origins of Latin American dislike of things U.S. and makes a very compelling case that those countries of Spanish origins, due to their heritage, have and will have a very hard time developing in our changing world. It is not politically correct but it is real. A must read for those trying to understand why everything south of the Rio Grande is so terrible.
A fascinating historical-comparative study
This novel take on the comparative economic fortunes of the north and south should encourage other scholars to focus on questions of economic culture.Too much work in Latin American studies is carried out from within a structuralist paradigm, yielding the same stale conclusions.Veliz' insistence that we cannot overlook cultural factors is timely and apt.Read more

Subjects:  1. British influences    2. Civilization    3. Comparative civilization    4. General    5. History Of Civilization And Culture (General)    6. History: World    7. Latin America    8. Latin America - South America    9. North America    10. Sociology    11. Spanish influences    12. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    13. Anthropology    14. Colonization & independence    15. History / General    16. The Americas   

Reviews (4)

Great for intermediate learners!
This book is perfect for my skill level right now.The stories are interesting and fairly easy to read.They really help me pin point my weakness and introduce new vocabulary.The reason for only 4 stars is that I feel this is not really an appropriate book for the beginner or advanced learner.I think someone with more advanced Spanish would be incredibly bored and I think a beginner would struggle too much and rely on the facing page translations.For me it is really perfect!

Perfect for improving Spanish reading skills
Stories from Mexico/Historias de Mexico is a wonderful book for improving Spanish reading skills.In fact, the other two books in the series, Stories From Spain and Stories From Latin America are equally great.Each book makes wide and varied use of vocabulary so that each one of the books teaches new words.The translations are usually extremely faithful, which is important when the point is to build vocabulary knowledge and not literary beauty.These books are even great for teaching English to Spanish speaking ESL students.While spending my summer in Costa Rica I used Historias de Mexico with one of my English students and she loved it.The stories are short, so one does not become frustrated and they are very entertaining.Buy this book!I would LOVE to see a professional recording come out on this series.

Good Spanish Starter
This soft-covered book of 140 pages contains 16 Mexican legends spanning >1500 years. These are easy, enjoyable stories to read, especially appropriate for the early Spanish learner. Having side-by-side English translation is immensely helpful [though in the back of the book there is an additional appropriate dictionary]. Few of the complicated Spanish verb forms, viz., subjunctive, are found which is a minor point. All the legends are popular Mexican legends, appropriate for young and old. Read more

Subjects:  1. English    2. European - Spanish & Portuguese    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. History    5. Legends    6. Mexico    7. Readers    8. Spanish    9. Spanish language    10. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    11. Textbooks for foreign speakers    12. Travel    13. Language readers    14. Travel / Mexico   

Reviews (2)

Well-written panorama of Argentine history
From 16th Century colonial foundations to the colapse of the vicious dictatorships of the 1980s and the election of Raoul Alfonsin, Rock's history gives us a sweeping, clear view of Argentina's past.His style is readable and vey well organized.He takes the country's turbulent centuries in simple chronological order, introducing the reader to the leaders of politics, the economy, social classes, the military and, to some extent, the arts.Rock has a penchant for the economic details pulling the country up and down, supporting his conclusions with much specific data.I enjoyed his presentation of long-lasting Argentine themes, such as the conflicts between Buenos Aires and the interior and the rich and workers.The economic and social influence of other nations is traced with care, starting, of course, with Spain, but also including Brazil, England and the US. A concise, comprehensive review of Argentina
I found the book relatively easy to follow and well thought out. There is a good discussion of economic, political, and social problems and developments, helping the reader to fully understand the events of the day, providing an excellent introduction to Argentina's history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Argentina    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Latin America - South America    6. South America - History    7. History / Latin America   

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Latin America - General    6. Latin America - Mexico    7. Mexico    8. Nahuas    9. Sources    10. Spanish colony, 1540-1810    11. American history: c 1500 to c 1800   

Reviews (2)

Context, context, context
In the complex and highly-charged debate that is the origins of persecution in the Middle Ages, Nirenberg's contribution is a useful and timely one. Broadly speaking, his thesis is a counter to the long view of Moore _et al_; what interests Nirenberg is the specific, the day-to-day functioning of violence in its social and political context. It is for this reason that he focuses mainly on particular incidents and localities - although certainly not at the expense of broadening his picture where necessary. His method is essentially a comparative one, contrasting particular events in France and Aragon in order to demonstrate the infinite variety and flexibility of medieval attitudes towards minorities. This use of case studies enables Nirenberg to explore his targets in much greater depth than would be possible in a generalised study, and this is, in many ways, his point: a focus on context, not unified theory. Turning my gaze
The first thing to be said about Communities of Violence: Persecution of Minorities in the Middle Ages is thatthe contents do not live up to the title. Perhaps this is an editor's decision rather than the author's, but the fact is that this is NOT anything like a comprehensive history of the subject. A better title might be A Study of a Few Incidents Involving Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Aragon and Catalonia in the First Half of the 14th Century. The buyer of this book will be disappointed on that score if he was expecting something more encompassing. Another disappointing aspect of this book is the author's disconcerting use of trendy post-modern jargon: it is full of talk of "discourses","narratives","structures", turning one's "gaze", "paradigms", and other terms which seem designed more to obtain tenure for the author than to convey real information and to constitute a satisfying work of history. The book does contain many interesting tales arising from the author's research into Catalonian and Aragonese archives, research which seems to be highly original on his part. Thus, we have vignettes of Christians, Jews, and Muslims gambling together and suing each other, incidents of interfaith sex and prostitutiuon, and intercommunal violence. (I was fascinated to learn that of Muslims applying for medical licenses in 14th century Valencia, most of them were women.) The governments of the time seem to have been largely ineffectual (a point the author does not explicitly make) with citizens resorting to assault, arson, and rioting often and refusing to obey the king or his officers, and petty nobles taking the law into their own hands. This book is not without its longeurs, but is in places very interesting; the reader who seeks a comprehensive account of the treatment of Jews and Muslims in Spain, much less in the rest of Europe, will simply have to go elsewhere. One hopes that at least the author made full professor. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Medieval    5. Minority Studies - General    6. Cultural studies    7. European History    8. European history: c 500 to c 1500    9. History / Medieval    10. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    11. Jewish Studies    12. Racism & racial discrimination    13. Religion    14. Spain    15. Violence in society    16. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (12)

Great Read!
This is exciting stuff! I enjoy the honest portrayal of Columbus, showing his strengths and weaknesses and how he was both an opportunist and a victim of the system. The narrative is spell binding and gripping. It is a great story and very well written. One thing the reader should be aware of is that the first half of the body of the book is background information. It interesting and important information to have before you read the account of the voyage, but there is a lot of it and the title may mislead you into thinking that the body of the book primarily consists of the account of Columbus's fourth voyage, when the account is really about half. Secondly, I wished that there were more maps marking the important places the book mentions in Spain, Africa and the New World. There is a map of the New World and the lines marking Columbus's four voyages, but not enough of the important points are included on that map. Having that would have aided my mental picture of what was happening. Also, one of the other reviewers mentioned the lack of source citations. I have noticed the same thing about other recent reader's-history books lately. I wonder if it is becoming a trend to cite less, in order to prevent distraction to the reader. I hope not. Citing sources is an important part of validating one's research and it reassures folks that undue embellishments are not being made. Nonetheless, these are all nit-picky points compared to the almost magical way that Dugard draws you into the story. Buy the book! You won't be able to put it down you will be amazed at what Columbus and his crew endured.
Very good but a few problems for historians
Martin Dugard's riveting account of Christopher Columbus's last voyage in the New World is not without its flaws. Though the book is very compelling and a great read it suffers a bit from a jumping narrative in the first section to a lack of citations regarding sources throughout.
Enticing, energetic
Whereas the first half of this book is a summary of Columbus' prior three voyages and the Spanish political arena of those days, along with tales of other adventurous voyagers scouting the New World, the remaining half of the book plunges into an exciting examination of his fourth and final voyage.
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Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. America    3. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Columbus, Christopher    7. Discovery And Exploration (General)    8. Discovery and exploration    9. Expeditions & Discoveries    10. Explorers    11. Historical - General    12. History    13. History - General History    14. History: American    15. North American    16. Spain    17. Spanish    18. Travel    19. History / General   

Reviews (10)

Comprehensive, well written by an author who knows Spain, though a little dated
Hooper writes well and knowledgeably,bringing the reader up through the Spain of the early 90s in a wide ranging and thorough examination of this fascinating country and society. His in-depth study of Espana stops about 1993; one would hope for an updated version for the intervening thirteen years.

A great disertation...
It makes sense now. Spain's rapid transformation from diplomatically isolated, economically stagnant backwater of Europe into a modern model european society is broken down and explained in an interesting fashion and with much attention to detail and statistics here by Hooper. Unputdownable.

Scholarly and interesting
This must be a definitive review of Spanish society and culture in the last half century, and while it's certainly fascinating reading, it is oversaturated. It can be a bit difficult to get through learning EVERYTHING about Spain if you are a newcomer to the topic. The section on the press becomes passionately detailed. Hooper seems to give the names, political bents and histories (behind the scenes and otherwise,) of every newspaper and magazine printed since 1936, as well as statistics about readership levels among various classes and regions over time which he compares to those of Britain and other European countries. Granted the information, with his analysis, does make for a very vivid portrait of the country, but you may feel a bit as though you're being hit on the head with a hammer when he starts doing the same thing in a chapter on television broadcasting. I simply couldn't keep track of the TV stations, and what they were up to, who was running them, how and why. Though I did get the point. Spanish love television, and they don't seem to have a problem with government control of the medium.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1939-1975    2. 1975-    3. Anthropology - Cultural    4. Contemporary Politics - Europe    5. Culture    6. History    7. International Relations - General    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Social conditions    11. Spain    12. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. History / Europe / General    14. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (1)

Great
This is a wonderful glimpse into the development of detailed maps ofCentral America.It expresses the necessity of a country to be aware ofthe resources it possesses and the lengths to which it must go to obtainthis information.Another good book along these same lines is"Mapping and Empire" by Matthew Edney, which describes theprocess of mapmaking the British government undertook in India.Overall,this is a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartography    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Latin America - Mexico    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. World - Colonial Studies    8. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    9. Cartography, geodesy & geographic information systems (GIS)    10. Maps, charts & atlases    11. Mexico    12. Spain    13. Technology / Cartography   

Reviews (15)

SPANISH CIVIL WAR PRIMER
As the 70th Anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War is approaching this writer is reviewing some important works that militants should read in order to draw the lessons of the defeat of the Spanish revolution. The writer has been interested, as a pro-Republican partisan, in the Spanish Civil War since he was a teenager.What initially perked my interest, and remains of interest, is the passionate struggle of the Spanish working class to create its own political organization of society, its leadership of the struggle against Spanish fascism and the romance surrounding the entry of the International Brigades, particularly the American Abraham Lincoln Battalion of the 15th Brigade, into the struggle.
The Definitive Account of the Spanish Civil War.
If all that you know about the Spanish Civil War comes from the works of Papa Hemingway or Pablo Picasso, this well researched history is for you.Thomas' work is well researched and librally cited throughout.He reviewed the surviving documents for both sides and interviewed many of the surviving players including Germans and Russians involved in a War which was a training ground for the European Dictatorships in preparing for World War II.
This be the one

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Subjects:  1. 1936-1939, Civil War    2. Civil War, 1936-1939    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. History: World    7. Military - General    8. Spain    9. Spain And Portugal - History    10. History / Spain & Portugal   

Reviews (4)

An Abridged Version of "Barcelona"
Which is not a bad thing, since the original 574-page version, written in 1992 just after the Barcelona Olympics, is too verbose. This version appears to have benefited from aggressive editing, deleting much of the generally irrelevant material on Barcelona's history and Catalan literature and art, which may generously be described as undistinguished.
A Barcelona Connoisseur
I read this delightful book on a plane to Barcelona. It whet my appetite for the cultural repast to come. Hughes gives a foretaste of the rich melange of language, history, art, and architecture that makes Barcelona and Catalonia so compelling. Though Hughes clearly loves this city, the writing is fresh and he mixes in sharp opinions so the book never cloys. Delectable.

A Quick Must Read
Hughes makes the buildings, history and pride of the Catalan people come alive. His use of Architecture tells a quick story of a strong and independant people, with Barcelona at it's center. His love of the city and people is evident in his story of his most recent wedding in Barcelona. The great thing about the book is that you want more, I'm happy he has a larger volume that covers the city and its eccletic history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1938-    2. Architecture    3. Arts, Spanish    4. Barcelona    5. Barcelona (Spain)    6. Civilization    7. Description and travel    8. Essays & Travelogues    9. Europe - Spain & Portugal    10. History    11. History - General    12. History: World    13. Homes and haunts    14. Hughes, Robert,    15. Spain    16. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    17. History / Spain & Portugal    18. Travel writing